This Is What The Actress Who Plays Jaylah In Star Trek Looks Like In Real Life

Jaylah Star Trek white hair

" Star Trek Beyond " wasn't quite the success that everyone involved in it likely hoped it would be. While the film received mostly positive reviews (it holds an 86% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes ), it failed to be a box office hit. "Beyond" only managed to gross a little over $343 million at the worldwide box office — falling short of the box office totals of the two previous "Star Trek" films . As a result, Paramount Pictures has yet to make a sequel to "Star Trek Beyond," though, a number of new "Star Trek" TV shows have premiered in the five years since its release.

However, despite the film's disappointing financial returns, there are actually a number of things that "Star Trek Beyond" does right. That includes the introduction and creation of some memorable new characters, like Idris Elba's villainous Krall and Sofia Boutella's likable alien scavenger, Jaylah . An escaped survivor of the camp run by Krall, "Beyond" shows Jaylah become a quick and helpful new ally for the Enterprise crew.

Boutella made an instant impression with her performance as the character, despite being covered in heavy makeup and facial prosthetics throughout the entirety of the film. Indeed, the actress is totally unrecognizable in the role, so much so that viewers may be surprised to learn not only what Boutella looks like in real life, but also that "Star Trek Beyond" is far from the only notable project that Boutella has starred in.

Jaylah is played by dancer-turned-actress Sofia Boutella

Sofia Boutella has been steadily carving out an impressive film and television career for herself over the past several years. Boutella got her start as a professional dancer, and many of her earliest credits are for music videos from notable musical artists like Madonna and Michael Jackson. Her first major film role came in 2012 when she appeared as Eva in " StreetDance 2 ," but she achieved breakthrough success with her performance as the deadly Gazelle in 2014's "Kingsman: The Secret Service." Two years later, she appeared as Jaylah in "Star Trek Beyond" and followed up that sci-fi blockbuster with her memorable turn as Delphine — the seductive-but-well-intentioned love interest of Charlize Theron's Lorraine — in 2017's "Atomic Blonde."

That same year, Boutella starred alongside Tom Cruise in a live-action reboot of " The Mummy ," where she played the film's titular character. Meanwhile, in 2018 she appeared as Clarisse McClellan in the Michael B. Jordan-led HBO film adaptation of Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451," and earned major acclaim for her performance as Selva in the trippy, dance-driven indie film, " Climax ."

On the smaller screen, Boutella has also appeared as Yasmine in two episodes of the Amazon anthology series, "Modern Love," and is currently set to star alongside Alfie Allen and Jack O'Connell in the upcoming historical miniseries, " SAS: Rogue Heroes ." In other words, not only has Boutella already amassed some truly impressive credits for herself, but she's also shown no signs of slowing down any time soon, either.

Everything We Know About The Husnock, One Of Star Trek's Most Mysterious Alien Races

Star Trek: The Next Generation The Survivors

In the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "The Survivors" (October 9, 1989), the U.S.S. Enterprise discovered a mystery. On the planet Delta Rana IV — otherwise uninhabited and whose surface was devastated by an ancient cataclysm — a single house sat. Beaming down, the Enterprise crew found a well-kemp lawn, a large white home, and a kindly elderly couple named Kevin and Rishon Uxbridge (John Anderson and Anne Haney). While polite and welcoming, the Uxbridges are cagey about their circumstances. How are they the only people alive on the whole planet, and how can they merely enjoy teatime and lawn mowing without acknowledging their utter isolation? 

Eventually, of course, the truth would come out. Kevin Uxbridge was, in fact, a member of a species called the Douwd, a species of pure energy, possessed of godlike powers. He transformed into a humanoid and fell in love with Rishon, living with her in connubial bliss for years. Many years ago, however, the colony on Delta Rana IV was attacked by a vicious species called the Husnock, who killed all 11,000 colonists, including Rishon. Kevin initially refused to fight the Husnock because his species lives by a strict code of pacifism, but the death of Rishon devastated him. In a moment of vengeful pique, Kevin used his powers to reach out into the galaxy and wipe out every single member of the Husnock race, 50 billion of them. He committed genocide. 

Kevin recreated his home and an illusion of Rishon, hoping to live quietly as penance for his unimaginable crime. Unable to punish or incarcerate a god, Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) merely leaves Kevin in peace. 

What we never learn anything about is the Husnock. All Trekkies ever saw was a mysterious warship. What other information can we find?

The Husnock

Indeed, the mysterious warship that appears throughout "The Survivors" isn't even definitively identified as a Husnock ship. Audiences later learned that the warship was another one of Kevin Uxbridge's illusions, summoned to scare off the Enterprise and leave Kevin alone. We are left to infer that Kevin's illusion was extrapolated from Husnock warships, but that may be a foolhardy assumption. 

There are no pictures of the Husnock anywhere in "The Survivors," and there is no description as to what they looked like. In dialogue, they were merely called "a species of hideous intelligence, who knew only aggression and destruction." By extrapolation, Trekkies have found that the Husnock were killed off in the year 2366, only shortly before the events of the episode. The Federation seemed to have little information about the Husnock. 

The only information given about the Husnock has to be derived from the vast sea of "Star Trek" expanded universe lore. In the late 2010s, there was a series of tie-in "Star Trek" novels called "Star Trek: Titan," an anthology that followed the adventures of Captain Riker commanding the titular ship. In David Mack's 2017 "Titan" novel "Fortune of War," the Husnock were finally brought back in their own central story, albeit after their extinction.

"Fortune of War" is set 20 years after the events of "The Survivors" and follows the U.S.S. Titan on an exploration mission of all the abandoned Husnock technology that was abandoned when Kevin wiped them from existence. Husnock warships still possessed a great deal of destructive potential, and it was up to Admiral Riker, a new character named Captain Vale and the Titan crew to keep Husnick ships from falling into the wrong hands. 

'Fortune of War'

By the description in "Fortune of War," the Husnock were essentially evil octopodes. Or, more accurately septapodes. They walked around on four tentacles and used the other three as their arms. They had beak-like mouths and their blood was a dark blue color. They were also said to have multiple hearts, although an exact number was not given. They also seemed to oversee a vast portion of space called the Husnock Star Kingdom, implying that their government was a monarchy. 

"Fortune of War" also described the extinction of the Husnock as they personally experienced it, and it was similar to Thanos' mass murder in "Avengers: Infinity War," but a lot more painful. Evidently, Kevin Uxbridge projected himself into the minds of all 50 billion Husnock simultaneously to simply say "For Rishon" and show them all the image of Rishon being killed in the Husnock attack. He then essentially set them all on fire, burning them all into ash. 

It's a bit grim, but the Husnock warship appeared in "Star Trek Online," the popular 2010 video game. That game endeavored to include every single character and ship that ever appeared in "Star Trek," and to get the Husnock ships involved, a new narrative was invented. It seems that those Husnock ships that the Titan was trying to protect in "Fortune of War" had already been salvaged and put into combat by the Klingons, the Romulans, and even the Federation. That doesn't seem wise or even ethical, but it was a fine shorthand for a video game predicated on combat. 

Whether or not the Husnack will return remains to be seen, although one could see an enterprising screenwriter working a reference into "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds."

15 of the Most Bizarre Alien Species Featured in 'Star Trek'

"star trek" aliens.

"Star Trek" is filled with unusual aliens, ranging from the humanoid to the crystalloid to the god-like. Here are some of the more unique species from the live-action "Star Trek" series. Please note: We deliberately exclude the more well-known alien races, and limit each of the series to three entries to try to include samples from across the canon. If we missed anything bizarre, tell us in the comments!

1. Salt vampire ("Star Trek: The Original Series," 1966-1969)

The very first episode of "Star Trek" showed promise when it came to weird aliens. An old flame of one of the crew members, Nancy Crater, turns out to be a projection of a sort of salt vampire that soon runs amok on the USS Enterprise. This alien species cannot live long without salt, so it attacks crew members and sucks them dry of essential salts. The creature is eventually stopped in part by a sort of mouse trap that — of course — uses salt. [ What I Learned by Watching Every 'Star Trek' Show and Movie ]

2. Horta ("Star Trek: The Original Series," 1966-1969)

This is a species of silicon-based life (humans, by comparison, are carbon-based) that prefers to feed on rocks. In a moving episode, "The Devil In The Dark," the crew discovers that the aliens are actually intelligent and very loyal to their offspring — but only after the Vulcan alien Spock does a mind-meld with one of the creatures, which is being persecuted by miners angry at the destruction it has caused.

3. Gorn ("Star Trek: The Original Series," 1966-1969)

A member of this extremely strong (but intelligent) reptilian species engages in famous hand-to-hand combat with Capt. James T. Kirk in the episode "Arena." The only way Kirk manages to overpower him is by finding the ingredients for gunpowder on the alien planet on which he is trapped, using his own uniform to help with the ignition. As an honorary mention, we should also include The Metrons, a species that can manipulate energy and matter at will — these are the aliens that set up the fight in the first place, because they are mad at their space being invaded.

4. Q ("Star Trek: The Next Generation," 1987-1994)

Simultaneously terrifying and witty, Q is a seemingly supernatural being who pops up on the USS Enterprise periodically to play tricks on the crew. Some of his memorable actions include giving Q-like powers to a member of the Enterprise (arguing that humans always love learning), and putting humanity on trial for its past crimes while wearing period uniforms from over the centuries. Q, however, isn't all trickster. Alongside his antics, he does warn humanity about the approach of the Borg, which is trying to assimilate all species into a collective. [ The Evolution of 'Star Trek' (Infographic) ]

5. Tamarian ("Star Trek: The Next Generation," 1987-1994)

This species is a tongue-twister for the usual translators that Starfleet officers carry. While the translators can literally tell us what the Tamarians are saying, it's hard to understand what is going on because the species is speaking in metaphors. (Some examples from Memory Alpha: "Temba, his arms wide/open," which means a gift, or "the river Temarc in winter," which refers to the need for silence.) In the episode "Darmok," Capt. Jean-Luc Picard must learn to communicate with a Tamarian quickly before they are both killed by a hostile beast.

6. Crystalline Entity ("Star Trek: The Next Generation," 1987-1994)

This alien goes in the "beautiful but deadly" category, as the crystalline entity was breathtaking to watch in space — it looked a bit like a snowflake, or small and shiny diamonds. However, the entity had a nasty side to it: It could quickly devour all life in its wake. The USS Enterprise finally defeated the entity by sending graviton pulses that eventually broke it into pieces. But sadly, the crew couldn't stop the pulses in time when they realized the creature might be trying to communicate with them.

7. Changeling ("Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," 1993-1999)

Fans of the series will instantly remember changelings, as their numbers included one of the series' main characters — Odo, the sarcastic security officer aboard the space station Deep Space 9. Changelings were made up of an orange liquid that in the "Star Trek" universe is technically referred to as a "morphogenic matrix." Changelings were able to morph into pretty much anything they wanted to, including inanimate objects or even to resemble humans. [ Love of 'Star Trek' Inspires Highly Illogical Careers ]

8. Jem'Hadar ("Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," 1993-1999)

Jem'Hadar were one of a few "Star Trek" aliens with very different life cycles than humans. In their case, they were created in "birthing chambers" and were able to reach maturity in just three days. They also fed on a drug called Ketracel-white, which contained an enzyme they needed to survive. That enzyme was deliberately withheld during birthing by the Vorta, who created the Jem'Hadar; this gave the Vorta power over the Jem'Hadar and a captive economy for distributing the drug.

9. Trill ("Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," 1993-1999)

A main character on "Deep Space Nine" was from the Trill species — Jadzia Dax. Most of the Trill were fairly unremarkable, but there were a small number (including Dax) who lived with a symbiont inside their bodies. This symbiont was intelligent, but required a host organism to survive; it was common to transfer symbionts to young bodies when the older host organism was close to death. This meant that in the case of Dax, the symbiont transferred from an older man to a younger woman, prompting surprise from an old friend, Capt. Benjamin Sisko, the first time he met the younger Dax on Deep Space 9.

10. Hirogen ("Star Trek: Voyager," 1995-2001)

This alien was a brutal enemy of anything in the "Star Trek" universe, simply because the Hirogen consider themselves the dominant species and anything they run across as prey. Their entire culture was focused on hunting down other species, and they had the ability (if required) to break down bones and muscle tissue to eat the prey. Not someone you'd want to invite to dinner.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Current page: Page 1

Get the Space.com Newsletter

Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!

Elizabeth Howell

Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, " Why Am I Taller ?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace

The dark side of the Force rises in 1st 'Star Wars: The Acolyte' trailer (video)

Who are the Witches of Dathomir in 'Star Wars'?

Watch rockin' new trailer for Zack Snyder's 'Rebel Moon Part Two: The Scargiver' (video)

Most Popular

By All About Space magazine May 28, 2023

By Fran Ruiz May 06, 2023

By Daisy Dobrijevic April 01, 2023

By Jamie Carter March 24, 2023

By Fran Ruiz March 22, 2023

  • 2 3D map of over 1 million black holes traces where the universe's dark matter lies
  • 3 The dark side of the Force rises in 1st 'Star Wars: The Acolyte' trailer (video)
  • 4 How to view solar eclipse 2024 with items from around the home
  • 5 Condor Array Telescope confirms Chinese astrology records of 'new star' spotted in 77 BCE

star trek white alien

Star Trek: Discovery's New Alien Captain Species Revealed

  • Captain Rayner from Star Trek: Discovery is revealed to be a Kellerun, not Vulcan or Romulan.
  • The Kellerun species was first seen in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2.
  • Trek Central tweeted about Michelle Paradise confirming Callum Keith Rennie as a Kellerun in SFX Magazine.

Star Trek: Discovery showrunner Michelle Paradise has revealed the surprising alien species season 5's new Starfleet character, Captain Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie), belongs to. From the early images and Discovery season 5 trailers, it initially appeared that, with his pointed ears, Rayner may be a Vulcan or Romulan . However, the final Star Trek: Discovery season 5 trailer showed Rayner snarling with rage, heavily implying that he wasn't an emotionally repressed Vulcan.

In an interview with SFX Magazine , Michelle Paradise confirmed that Star Trek: Discovery 's Captain Rayner is not a Vulcan, nor is he a Romulan. Instead, Rayner is a member of the Kellerun species , first seen in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2, episode 13, "Armageddon Game". Trek Central tweeted the news, complete with an image of a Kellerun from DS9 's "Armageddon Game". Read their tweet below:

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 - Everything We Know

Kellerun species in star trek: ds9 explained.

The Kellerun only appeared in one episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , "Armageddon Game" . A species that hailed from the Gamma Quadrant, the Kellerun were encountered by Chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney) and Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) at the end of a brutal war with the T'Lani. O'Brien and Bashir were dispatched to help with destroying the final traces of a biological weapon known as the Harvester. Sharat (Peter White), a Kellerun ambassador, sought to secure lasting peace by erasing all knowledge of the weapon by killing everyone involved with it, including Bashir and O'Brien.

Their encounter with the Kellerun was a crucial moment for Chief O'Brien and Dr. Bashir's friendship , establishing the bond between them. Sharat's single-minded desire to erase all knowledge of the Harvester in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine could have interesting implications for Captain Rayner. From the clips released from Star Trek: Discovery season 5, Rayner seems similarly single-minded, nearly killing Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and his own crew in pursuit of the villainous Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis). Scorched Earth policies are clearly a Kellerun trait , which could set up a fascinating dynamic between Rayner and Burnham in Star Trek: Discovery season 5.

Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine are available to stream on Paramount+.

Sources: SFX Magazine, Trek Central

Genres Drama, Sci-Fi, Adventure

Streaming Service(s) Paramount+

Franchise(s) Star Trek

Directors Jonathan Frakes, Olatunde Osunsanmi

Showrunner Alex Kurtzman

Star Trek: Discovery's New Alien Captain Species Revealed

Memory Alpha

Ketracel-white

  • View history

Ketracel white repository

A repository of full white tubes

Kudak'Etan

A Jem'Hadar with Ketracel-white tube

Ketracel-white (or simply white ) was a chemical compound created to be an addictive narcotic that contained an isogenic enzyme . One of the active ingredients of white was yridium bicantizine . The Jem'Hadar soldiers of the Dominion were genetically-engineered to lack the enzyme which white provided, and required frequent doses of the drug to survive. The white also provided all the nutrients they required, alleviating them of the need to eat or drink .

Without white, Jem'Hadar soldiers suffered withdrawal symptoms including pain , anxiety , loss of mental control, and inability to " shroud "; eventually, the Jem'Hadar spiraled into homicidal insanity. First killing their enemies followed by their allies, they inevitably turned on each other. Ultimately, their entire genetic structure collapsed. ( DS9 : " Rocks and Shoals ") On rare occasions, a Jem'Hadar was born with a genetic mutation which allowed their bodies to produce the white they needed, though most such instances went unnoticed, as the Jem'Hadar with this mutation still took the drug on a regular basis and were unaware that they had no need to. ( DS9 : " Hippocratic Oath ") All known attempts to remove this genetically-engineered addiction failed, with the drug itself proving difficult to analyze and replicate by Starfleet methods. It was determined that a dose of three cc 's provided a sufficient amount to subside the patient's angst. ( DS9 : " The Abandoned ")

The addiction to white ensured the Jem'Hadars' loyalty to the Founders . However, for most Jem'Hadar, this was unnecessary, as their loyalty was already absolute. Distribution of the white was controlled by the Vorta , and was dispensed to the Jem'Hadar First in a formal ceremony:

Vorta : "First [name], can you vouch for the loyalty of your men?" Jem'Hadar : "We pledge our loyalty to the Founders, from now until death." Vorta : "Then receive this reward from the Founders, may it keep you strong."

Jem'Hadar bred in the Alpha Quadrant (called " Alphas ") occasionally dispensed with the formal ceremony, claiming that their loyalty was shown by their actions rather than their words. ( DS9 : " One Little Ship ") In the event of the death of the Vorta or the detachment of a group of Jem'Hadar from their main unit, the Jem'Hadar First could unlock the white case. ( DS9 : " Rocks and Shoals ", " One Little Ship ", " To the Death ")

Early in the Dominion War , the Dominion suffered from a white shortage due to a minefield preventing the shipment of new supplies from the Gamma Quadrant . The shortage was exacerbated when the primary white storage facility was destroyed by Starfleet . In a secret memorandum, Damar recommended that the last white supplies be poisoned if new supplies could not be procured. ( DS9 : " A Time to Stand ", " Behind the Lines ")

After Operation Return , the Dominion attempted to acquire the Kabrel system from the Federation under the guise of peace negotiations, as the tri-nucleic fungi on Kabrel I would have enabled them to manufacture an unlimited quantity of white. ( DS9 : " Statistical Probabilities ", " Penumbra ") Later, the Son'a agreed to produce large amounts of white for the Dominion on Devos II . ( Star Trek: Insurrection ; DS9 : " Penumbra ")

By 2381 , the name had inspired a brand of hot sauce , Ketracel White-Hot , which was available to customers at Sisko's Creole Kitchen on Earth . ( LD : " Grounded ")

  • 1.1 Background information
  • 1.2 Apocrypha
  • 1.3 References
  • 1.4 External link

Appendices [ ]

Background information [ ].

The tubes that delivered the white to the Jem'Hadar evolved in design during the third and fourth seasons of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . Originally, the tubes were colored black in " The Jem'Hadar ", then white in " The Search, Part I ", then transparent in " The Abandoned ". The tubes remained transparent throughout the rest of the series.

They also became more elaborate, however, becoming bigger and mechanized. " It was [at first] supposed to be something that was very subtle, that went into the main blood vein in their necks, " recalled Michael Westmore , following his work on season four. " Eventually, it was thought that that was a little boring, so now when we see them, there's an actual motor in their costume which keeps circulating a flow of liquid through the tube. That was added about the third or fourth time they worked. " ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - The Official Poster Magazine , No. 3)

Special Effects Supervisor Gary Monak recollected, " Tiny pumps that came out of copy machines seemed to work the best, in terms of the speed and the sound. The first time we had to do a bunch of Jem'Hadar, we got twelve of these pumps from a surplus place, and they all worked fine. But the next time it came up and we needed more, they no longer existed. We had gotten the last twelve pumps that work. " Smiling, Monak concluded, " It might be touch and go if they ever send thirty of these guys to us looking for neck pumps. " ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion  (p. 268))

Apocrypha [ ]

In Star Trek Online , ketracel-white is revealed to have been derived from a fungus found on the Hur'q homeworld. The Dominion hoped to use the earliest form of ketracel-white to control the Hur'q, but discovered that this was impossible as, without the substance, they became non-sentient and extremely aggressive. The Changelings nonetheless refined ketracel-white and engineered the Jem'Hadar and the Fek'Ihri in the hopes of using it, with the Jem'Hadar ultimately being the successful experiment. After the Hur'q threat is over, the Dominion, now under the control of Odo, removed the genetic dependency of ketracel-white from Jem'hadar as a condition to join the Alliance.

References [ ]

  • " The Abandoned "
  • " Hippocratic Oath "
  • " To the Death "
  • " A Time to Stand "
  • " Rocks and Shoals "
  • " Behind the Lines "
  • " Statistical Probabilities "
  • " One Little Ship "
  • " Treachery, Faith and the Great River "
  • " The Siege of AR-558 "
  • " Penumbra "
  • Star Trek: Insurrection

External link [ ]

  • Ketracel-white at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
  • 2 Star Trek: The Next Generation
  • 3 USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-G)

Star Trek Beyond (2016)

Full cast & crew.

star trek white alien

Directed by 

Writing credits ( wga )  , cast (in credits order) complete, awaiting verification  , produced by , music by , cinematography by , editing by , casting by , production design by , art direction by , set decoration by , costume design by , makeup department , production management , second unit director or assistant director , art department , sound department , special effects by , visual effects by , stunts , camera and electrical department , animation department , casting department , costume and wardrobe department , editorial department , location management , music department , script and continuity department , transportation department , additional crew , thanks .

Release Dates | Official Sites | Company Credits | Filming & Production | Technical Specs

Contribute to This Page

 width=

  • Full Cast and Crew
  • Release Dates
  • Official Sites
  • Company Credits
  • Filming & Production
  • Technical Specs
  • Plot Summary
  • Plot Keywords
  • Parents Guide

Did You Know?

  • Crazy Credits
  • Alternate Versions
  • Connections
  • Soundtracks

Photo & Video

  • Photo Gallery
  • Trailers and Videos
  • User Reviews
  • User Ratings
  • External Reviews
  • Metacritic Reviews

Related Items

  • External Sites

Related lists from IMDb users

list image

Recently Viewed

Star Trek home

  • More to Explore
  • Series & Movies

The Many Aliens of Star Trek: Picard

"There was an opportunity to come up with some new ones."

Star Trek: Picard ' s lead creature designer, Neville Page, and prosthetic designer, Vincent Van Dyke, discuss the many aliens of Star Trek: Picard .

Star Trek: Picard streams on Paramount+ in the United States,  in Canada on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave, and on Amazon Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories.

First trailer for Evil Dead director's Alien: Romulus promises a claustrophobic sci-fi horror drenched in blood and sweat

Here's the unsettling first look at Fede Alvarez's new Alien movie

The first unsettling look at Alien: Romulus is finally here and, rather unsurprisingly, it's chock full of Facehuggers and centers a frightened group of youngsters trying to evade the snapping jaws and claws of the titular terrifying Xenomorph. But dare to delve deeper, and the trailer seems to promise mystery mixed in with its horror...

Priscilla's Cailee Spaeny gets a Ripley-esque introduction in the teaser, which you can watch above, as her character Raines emerges from an elevator holding a Pulse rifle – an undeniable reference to Sigourney Weaver's iconic hero stepping out of the cargo elevator on her way to the Queen's nest in Aliens . 

With that, it seems obvious to assume she's the lead, supported by a cast that consists of Madame Web 's Isabela Merced, David Johnsson, Archie Renaux, Spike Fearn and Alieen Wu. 

Before that, though, the clip ratchets up the tension, as the camera tracks dimly lit space station corridors, with not a soul in sight. As it moves, we start to hear certain characters whimpering and sobbing, before voices can be heard shouting things like, "I don't know what it is," "Get it away from me," and "Open the door!" Then, a bloodcurdling scream lets rip as we pan to see a doorway covered in the gooey red stuff... Shudder...

Spaeny previously revealed where the movie is set in the franchise's timeline in a recent interview with Variety, explaining: "It's supposed to slot in between the first movie and the second movie." In an exclusive trailer breakdown with Total Film , director Fede Alvarez confirmed it takes place 20 years after the original, while Ripley is in hypersleep. "Technology in the world of Alien can change vastly, but I think it's not dependent on time. It's dependent on place, where you are," he noted.

"So the characters of this movie and the world are very blue-collar. The technology is still very low-tech and analogue. And, look, I'm a kid from the ‘80s. Any monitor with some VHS tracking issues puts a lot of joy in my heart."

While we've only just got our first glimpse at the new sci-fi horror sequel, director of the 1979 original Ridley Scott has seen the whole movie, and fortunately for Alvarez, he's a big fan.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

"He wanted to watch it on his own. Because it was Alien," Alvarez previously revealed while in conversation with Guillermo del Toro at the DGA Latino Summit 2023 . "It was very important to him. He didn't want to have anybody in the room. That makes me even more terrified while I'm waiting. And then he walks into the room and he did say, 'Fede, what can I say? It's fucking great.'"

Alien: Romulus is set to release in theaters on August 16, 2024. For more scares, check out the full list of upcoming horror movies , plus our ranking of the best horror movies of all time.

Bradley Russell

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.

Self-confessed horror buff Sydney Sweeney on what it feels like to be the genre’s new final girl, and which OG scream queens inspire her

Former Bond Pierce Brosnan is back in the spy game after joining new thriller from the director of Ocean's Eleven

Alien: Romulus director Fede Alvarez breaks down the new trailer for his stripped-back, "standalone" survival horror

Most Popular

By Hirun Cryer 20 March 2024

By Lauren Milici 20 March 2024

By Iain Harris 20 March 2024

By Duncan Robertson 20 March 2024

By Molly Edwards 20 March 2024

By Emily Garbutt 20 March 2024

By Benjamin Abbott 20 March 2024

By Bradley Russell 20 March 2024

By Hope Bellingham 20 March 2024

Screen Rant

Every star wars alien race in the acolyte.

The fiirst trailer for Star Wars: The Acolyte featured several different alien races - and some of them are surprisingly deep cuts into Legends lore!

  • The Acolyte trailer showcases new alien characters in the High Republic Era, enhancing Star Wars lore.
  • Wookiee Jedi, a rare sight due to George Lucas' rule, make a significant appearance in the series.
  • Vernestra Rwoh, a Mirialan Jedi, and a potential Kel Dor character add depth to the Acolyte's diverse cast.

The first trailer for Star Wars: The Acolyte features a delightful number of alien races, including several that are brand new to Star Wars lore. Star Wars: The Acolyte will take viewers into the High Republic Era , a time when the Republic and the Jedi were at their height. The first trailer for Star Wars: The Acolyte opens at the main Jedi Temple on Coruscant, stressing the significance of this setting, and it immediately reveals alien younglings. Jedi are drawn from every race across the galaxy, so this isn't a surprise.

The aliens seen in The Acolyte 's trailer are all humanoid, allowing for practical effects and costuming. Some viewers have expressed disappointment that there aren't more exotic races in evidence, but this seems to be a conscious choice made as part of the production process. Still, creator Leslye Headland is an old-school Star Wars fan, and it shouldn't be a surprise that the aliens who do make an appearance in this trailer include some tremendous deep cuts into Star Wars lore. Here's all we know about the various alien races in The Acolyte 's trailer.

Star Wars: The Acolyte Trailer Breakdown: Story Details, Easter Eggs, & More

6 the acolyte introduces the first live-action wookiee jedi, wookiees have been a key part of star wars since a new hope.

The Acolyte trailer features Joonas Suotamo as the first live-action Wookiee Jedi in Star Wars canon. Wookiees have been an established part of Star Wars lore since the very first movie, with Chewbacca numbering among the most famous. Wookiees hail from the planet Kashyyyk in the Mid Rim territories, and they have developed a peaceful, family-focused society that dates back thousands of years . Most Wookiees are communal, living in homes built high in the boughs of the ancient wroshyr trees that cover their world.

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith brought Kashyyyk to life in live-action, with Master Yoda heading there to help repel a Separatist invasion. This revealed Yoda had good relations with the Wookiees, although he was by no means unique in this respect; Wookiee traditions, including their reverence of life, make them natural allies of the Jedi. There have been subtle hints Kashyyyk may be a planet rich in the Force , meaning Wookiee mysticism may be a Force tradition in its own right - one that complements the Jedi.

George Lucas Originally Forbade Wookiee Jedi

There have been surprisingly few Wookiee Jedi in Star Wars lore. This is largely because of a strange edict from George Lucas himself, established during the prequel era; he insisted there should be no Wookiee Jedi, likely in part because he feared them being over-powered. The standard Wookiee is a formidable warrior, given their towering height and phenomenal strength, and a Jedi Wookiee would be a literal force to be reckoned with .

Lucas broke this edict himself during Star Wars: The Clone Wars , which introduced a Wookiee Jedi youngling named Gungi (who's since returned in Star Wars: The Bad Batch ). The Acolyte introduces Jedi Master Kelnacca, the first Wookiee Jedi to appear in live-action, and he's played by none other than Joonas Suotamo. Suotamo is best known as the actor who played Chewbacca himself in the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

Jedi Master Kelnacca May Be An Unusual Jedi

Jedi Master Kelnacca is an unusual Jedi, living in isolation and cut off from the rest of the Order. This is even stranger for a Wookiee, given the race tends to be communal. It's possible Kelnacca has made some sort of vow, perhaps in an act of repentance. Star Wars lore has established there are indeed such traditions among the Jedi Order, and Kelnacca may even have taken a rare Barash Vow, one established during the High Republic Era. This may also explain Kelnacca's shaved head.

Star Wars: The Acolyte - Cast, Story Details & Everything We Know

5 vernestra rwoh is a mirialan jedi.

Mirialans are a near-humanoid species who originate from the Outer Rim planet Mirial. A cold, dry, desert planet, Mirial's inhabitants evolved to survive in some of the most inhospitable environments. Mirialan skin tones vary wildly, from pink to purple, although shades of green are particularly common. Like the Wookiees, Mirialans have a strong connection with the natural world, and there have been hints they have Force traditions of their own.

Vernestra Rwoh Is One Of Many Mirialan Jedi

Vernestra rwoh.

A prodigy among the Jedi of the High Republic, Vernestra "Vern" Rwoh was one of the youngest Jedi ever to achieve the rank of Knight. She served at a time of crisis for the Republic, battling on the front lines against the Nihil, the Nameless, and the Drengir, and proving herself wise beyond her years. Vern will appear in live-action in The Acolyte, set over a hundred years after she became a Master, at the tail end of the High Republic Era.

Rebecca Henderson is playing the High Republic Jedi Vernestra Rwoh , a prominent figure in Lucasfilm's Star Wars: The High Republic transmedia initiative. She is one of many Mirialans to join the Jedi Order; the most well-known is Luminara Unduli, a Jedi Master who served during the Clone Wars. Mirialan Jedi traditionally take one of their own race as a Padawan, although it's unknown whether Vernestra has done so.

Mirialans tend to be deeply spiritual, communing with the Living Force , and they also possess many strange and unusual Force powers . Vernestra, for example, was sensitive enough to the Force to craft a unique lightsaber - one that becomes a lightwhip - in response to its promptings. She also has a strong bond with hyperspace, experiencing visions of other places while traveling through it.

4 The Acolyte Trailer Hints At A Kel Dor (Is It Plo Koon?)

The kel dor are an aquatic species noted for their rebreathers.

It's easy to miss, but the group on what may be Kashyyyk include an alien who seems to be a Kel Dor. Hailing from a gas-rich world named Dorin in the galaxy's Expansion Region, the Kel Dor struggle to survive in more oxygen-rich environments . This is why they are most noted for their distinctive rebreathers, which filter the gases of other atmospheres into something they can breathe. By the time of the Empire, Kel Dor rebreathers seem to have become collectibles, because one is seen in Luthen's antique shop in Andor .

Kel Dor are noted for their thick, leathery skin that can actually allow them to survive in a vacuum for a time. Genetically, they are related to other similar races such as the Gand and the Tognath, who similarly require rebreathers. The Kel Dor were strong participants in the Republic, with their own environmentally-adjusted rooms in the Senate.

Plo Koon Is The Most Famous Kel Dor

The most famous Kel Dor is, of course, Plo Koon. A Jedi Master by the time of the Clone Wars, Plo Koon is most notable for discovering the Togruta Jedi Ahsoka Tano. Koon is dearly loved in Lucasfilm - Dave Filoni even tried to persuade George Lucas to make him an Order 66 survivor - so it's quite possible the young Kel Dor in The Acolyte trailer is in fact Plo Koon . There's no information on Kel Dor lifespans, so the possibility can't be ruled out.

3 Dafne Keen Is Playing A Part-Human, Part-Theelin Jedi Padawan

Dafne Keen is best known for playing the part of X-23, Wolverine's clone in Logan , and apparently she has this role to thank for her appearance in The Acolyte as well; showrunner Leslye Headland couldn't resist giving X-23 a lightsaber. Keen is playing Jeckie, a Jedi Padawan who's half-human and half-Theelin. This origin fits with Star Wars Legends, where the Theelin - a rare race - are noted for interbreeding with other races to keep their own species alive.

In Legends, Theelin suffered a tragic fate towards the end of the Old Republic era . Genetic mutations meant they became unable to reproduce among their own kind, and they desperately interbred with other races. They tragically became almost extinct, explaining why the Theelin are so rare. They've previously been mentioned in several of the Star Wars: The High Republic books .

2 The Acolyte Introduces A Tarsunt Jedi Youngling

Tarsunt is a Mid Rim planet, and its inhabitants are noted for their wide faces, large eyes, and furry manes. Tarsunts have played a prominent role in galactic history, with one - Lanever Villecham - serving as Chancellor of the New Republic before the destruction of Hosnian Prime in Star Wars: The Force Awakens . The Acolyte trailer features the first Tarsunt Jedi Youngling, seen meditating under Master Sol's guidance.

It's interesting to note that the Youngling istruggles to close their eyes during meditation. It's possible Tarsunt eyelids do not close easily, the first time there's been any indication of this. it is currently unknown whether this Tarsunt will be a named character in The Acolyte .

1 Unidentified Alien Species In Star Wars: The Acolyte

There are brief glimpses of other races in The Acolyte trailer, especially in the hustle and bustle of the market scenes, and there's one brand new alien among the Jedi Younglings. Most of these are blurred and out of focus. This approach is something of a tradition in Star Wars , ever since the days of the Mos Eisley cantina in the first Star Wars movie, when George Lucas populated the background with so many aliens. It will be exciting to see more of them in future trailers - and in the show itself, when it finally releases in June.

The Acolyte will be available to watch on Disney+.

COMMENTS

  1. List of Star Trek aliens

    Star Trek is a science fiction media franchise that began with Gene Roddenberry's launch of the original Star Trek television series in 1966. Its success led to numerous films, novels, comics, and spinoff series.A major motif of the franchise involves encounters with various alien races throughout the galaxy.

  2. Let That Be Your Last Battlefield

    In 2017, ScreenRant ranked "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" the 7th most optimistic episode of Star Trek television, pointing out the crew's reaction at the end. In 2016, SyFy ranked guest stars Frank Gorshin and Lou Antonio (as Bele and Lokai, the black and white aliens), the 10th best guest stars on the original series.

  3. "Star Trek" Let That Be Your Last Battlefield (TV Episode 1969)

    Let That Be Your Last Battlefield: Directed by Jud Taylor. With William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Frank Gorshin. The Enterprise encounters two duo-chromatic and mutually belligerent aliens who put the ship in the middle of their old conflict.

  4. Let That Be Your Last Battlefield (episode)

    The crew of the Enterprise find themselves caught in the middle of an intractable conflict with a bizarre fugitive alien and his equally belligerent pursuer. On an urgent decontamination mission to the planet Ariannus, the USS Enterprise encounters a Federation shuttlecraft reported as stolen from Starbase 4. The vessel's life support systems are failing and the pilot may be suffocating in the ...

  5. Star Trek: The 50 Best Alien Races

    Roylan. First appearance: Star Trek (2009) So far, the rebooted Trek films have not really given funs much by way of alien species. The only classic races to get good screen time in the reboots ...

  6. Jaylah

    Jaylah was a survivor of an attack by Krall. For years, she lived in the crashed hulk of the starship USS Franklin on the planet Altamid. In 2263, Jaylah helped the crew of the USS Enterprise, after it was destroyed, to fight and defeat Krall, leaving Altamid in the process. (Star Trek Beyond) Years prior to her encounter with the USS Enterprise crew, Jaylah and her family, like many before ...

  7. 12 Star Trek Aliens In Discovery's 32nd Century

    9 Andorians. A founder member of the Federation, Star Trek 's Andorians had taken a darker turn in the 32nd century after the Burn. Forming a criminal alliance with the Orions, the two classic Star Trek aliens regulated couriers like Book (David Ajala). This alliance also oversaw the distribution of the universe's limited supplies of dilithium.

  8. This Is What The Actress Who Plays Jaylah In Star Trek Looks ...

    Jaylah is played by dancer-turned-actress Sofia Boutella. Shutterstock. Sofia Boutella has been steadily carving out an impressive film and television career for herself over the past several ...

  9. Everything We Know About The Husnock, One Of Star Trek's Most ...

    The Husnock were introduced in Star Trek: Enterprise, but the alien race appears to be only a distant memory. ... Beaming down, the Enterprise crew found a well-kemp lawn, a large white home, and ...

  10. Andorian

    Andorians are a fictional race of humanoid extraterrestrials in the American science fiction franchise Star Trek.They were created by writer D. C. Fontana.Within the Star Trek narrative, they are native to the blue icy Class M moon, Andoria (sometimes referred to as Andor).Distinctive traits of Andorians include their blue/green skin, a pair of cranial antennae, and white hair.

  11. Efrosian

    The Efrosians were a sentient, humanoid species, whose homeworld was a member of the United Federation of Planets by the late 23rd century. Efrosians served in Starfleet by 2286, and an Efrosian served as the Federation President as of 2293. Efrosian males had cranial ridges and were generally seen wearing long, white hair and flowing mustaches. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Star Trek VI ...

  12. Star Trek: 10 Alien Species Explained

    5. J'Naii. Like a lot of alien races in Star Trek, the J'Naii are only physically distinguishable from humans by a series of facial ridges, in addition to a distinct lack of eyebrows and uniformly brunette hair. Culturally, they are very different, however, as they are a species that completely reject the notion of gender.

  13. 15 of the Most Bizarre Alien Species Featured in 'Star Trek'

    1. Salt vampire ("Star Trek: The Original Series," 1966-1969) Paramount. The very first episode of "Star Trek" showed promise when it came to weird aliens. An old flame of one of the crew members ...

  14. Star Trek's One-Hit Wonder Alien Species, Ranked

    When it comes to Star Trek aliens, the Klingons are as ubiquitous as the Beatles, while the Ferengi are more of "Top 40" choice, the Andorians are like an indie band, and the Romulans are whatever type of music you hate the most. But what about the one-hit wonder alien races — the species that only appeared in one episode (or movie), but ...

  15. Star Trek: 15 Alien Races You Need To Know About

    8. The Gorn. A race of aliens both beloved by fans and deeply underrepresented within Star Trek canon itself is the Gorn. A scaly, sharp-toothed species that resemble man-sized dinosaurs, the Gorn have so far only appeared in two episodes ever, but have never been forgotten by fandom.

  16. List of Star Trek aliens

    Star Trek is a science fiction media franchise that began with Gene Roddenberry's launch of the original Star Trek television series in 1966. Its success led to numerous films, novels, comics, and spinoff series. A major motif of the franchise involves encounters with various alien races throughout the galaxy. These fictional alien races are listed here.

  17. "Star Trek" Let That Be Your Last Battlefield (TV Episode 1969 ...

    Star Trek. Edit. The original story concept did not depict the aliens with bi-colored skin. One was a devil with a tail and the other was an angel. Episode director Jud Taylor came up with the idea of bi-colored skin shortly before the episode began filming. His original suggestion was that they be half-black/half-white, one color from the ...

  18. Star Trek: Discovery's New Alien Captain Species Revealed

    Star Trek: Discovery showrunner Michelle Paradise has revealed the surprising alien species season 5's new Starfleet character, Captain Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie), belongs to. From the early ...

  19. Ketracel-white

    Ketracel-white (or simply white) was a chemical compound created to be an addictive narcotic that contained an isogenic enzyme. One of the active ingredients of white was yridium bicantizine. The Jem'Hadar soldiers of the Dominion were genetically-engineered to lack the enzyme which white provided, and required frequent doses of the drug to survive. The white also provided all the nutrients ...

  20. Star Trek Beyond (2016)

    Star Trek Beyond (2016) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Menu. Movies. ... Kalara Alien (voice) Jeff Bezos ... Starfleet Official: Rest of cast listed alphabetically: Aiham AlSubaihi ... Blue-shirted Alien with ...

  21. Every Classic Star Trek Race In Discovery Season 3's Future

    Star Trek: Discovery season 3 is set in the 32nd century but many classic aliens from the franchise also survive into the distant future. Premiering on October 15, 2020, CBS All-Access' flagship Star Trek series broke away from being a prequel set a decade before the voyages of Captain Kirk's Starship Enterprise.In order to save the galaxy from a rogue sentient A.I. called Control, Michael ...

  22. Alex White (author)

    Horror. Notable works. The Salvagers trilogy. Website. www .alexrwhite .com. Alex White (born November 4, 1981 [1]) is an American author of science fiction and horror. They are best known for The Salvagers trilogy and their tie-in novels for the Alien and Star Trek franchises. White uses singular they pronouns.

  23. The Many Aliens of Star Trek: Picard

    Star Trek: Picard ' s lead creature designer, Neville Page, and prosthetic designer, Vincent Van Dyke, discuss the many aliens of Star Trek: Picard. Star Trek: Picard streams on Paramount+ in the United States, in Canada on Bell Media's CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave, and on Amazon Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories.

  24. First trailer for Evil Dead director's Alien: Romulus promises a

    Alien: Romulus is set to release in theaters on August 16, 2024. ... Star Trek Discovery season 5 spoiler-free review: "As if Strange New Worlds and Picard season 3 never happened" 5.

  25. Superman's Best Era Is Getting Omnibus Releases Starting This Fall

    Penguin Random House has announced that, starting in December, DC will begin printing omnibus editions of Superman's "Triangle Era," the time between cover date January 1991 and April 2002.

  26. Every Star Wars Alien Race In The Acolyte

    The first trailer for Star Wars: The Acolyte features a delightful number of alien races, including several that are brand new to Star Wars lore. Star Wars: The Acolyte will take viewers into the High Republic Era, a time when the Republic and the Jedi were at their height.The first trailer for Star Wars: The Acolyte opens at the main Jedi Temple on Coruscant, stressing the significance of ...